The Portland daily press., 1887-06-11
LOST ovERsoARp.
Remarkable Escape OF an Engineer
who was Lost In the English Cham
mel.

names given are real names, and the story Is
in Mr.. Forester's own words:
Eyes, II it win interest you, have no OBJ
lection to telling you my little adventure In
the English Channel last summer, although
Ishudder at times when think Of my mar
row escape. As you are aware. have been
chief engineer of the steamship Kingdom for
several years. and really think that good
luck will follow me as long as remain by
her. Well, we left the port Of Dunkirk, on
the coast of France. on the afternoon Of Au-
gust 21, 1886, bound for Liverpool, England,
the home Of my wife and children. You
can imagine my anxiety to reach those so
dear to me much better than / can describe
1t. No one but those who follow the sea can
realize fully the feelings Of him who Is
homeward bound after long absence.
We had been on our way about thirty-six
hours. 1t was my watch in the engine
room, stood besides the great Iengines and
watched their pulsation and knew that every
stroke made the great screw revolye and sent
us nearer, nearer to our loved ones. All
was going well in the engine-room and con-
Guided would tax breath of fresh air.
Mounting the ladder, 1 climbed to the engine
o'clock at night. The stars shone out bright
and beautiful-a magnificent summer night
at sea. The captain and his wife (whO had
joined him at Dunkirk) were on the ships
bridge, the captain keeping sharp lookout
for Dungeness Light ON the English coast.
The ships log registered ten and one half
knots per hour and that light should have
been in sight. Captain Roberts, seeing me,
remarked that the ship was not doing as well
as he expected. as the light should now be in
sight. was satisfied that the light would
soon show up and made myself comfortable
coffee and crackers that the steward served
me with at this hour. drank the coffee and
sat the cup on the rail and at that moment
saw flash almost dead ahead.
ITO make sure that 1t was Dungeness
Light, stood upon the rail, and placing my
hand over my head, and taking hold OF the
steering-rod, leaned over the side as far as
could. AS l did so, the movement OF the
rod brought my hand in contact with the
block in the shieve, Fearing my hand would
get caught 1 reached up the other, intending
to. change hands. let 60 too lsoon, and
missed my hold, and the next moment
found myself plunging headforemost into the
English Channel, 10 miles from land.
Instantly knew / must plunge deep
down under the water and swim from the
the wheel by the suction. came to the sur
face Just astern Of the ship, and facing her.
The spray from the propeller was driven
against my face with such force il seemed as
If it cut the flesh. l turned my back for a
moment, and then the problem Of life and
eternity was instantly before me. l threw
myself on my back and fioated.
Il saw the great cloud Of black smoke roll
out from the ships funnel and fall over the
water. l knew no one had seen me fall over
the ships side. / realized at once that all
those so near, either one of whom would
have rescued me even at the peril of his own
life, were unconsciously leaving me. / was
not missed on the ship till midnight, two
hours after / had fallen overheard. The
ship was earched-engine, boiler and fire.
rooms-in the expectation Of finding me dis
abled. At last my cup and plate were found
ON the ships rail. To those on board the
problem was solved-it was unanimously
voted that had dropped asleep and fallen
overheard while sitting on the rail- All
thought it too late to put the ship about and
look for me, and she was kept on her course
to Liverpool.
81 was clad in quite heavy wool Jacket
canvas pants and heavy English walking
shoes that laced high around my ankle. My
weight of clothing. attempted to get out
of my jacket; after making the most super
human efforts had to give it up. could
not extricate my arms from the sleeve with
ont drowning myself. Again tried to get
rid OF it by throwing myself on my back and
and floating, at the same time trying to pick
the seam open that held the sleeve. / had to
give this up. then tried to get my shoe off,
but could not do so. Every effort l made
would sink and then all my strength had to
be used in keeping my head above water.
To add to my misery most excruciating
pain seized me in the back Of my head at the
base Of my brain. This was terrible. had
now been in the water little over an hour
and was in full possession Of every faculty.
My whole life passed before me like pano-
a7s.f onf hot 1,n1
faded from memory were again as fresh as
in the days OF youth. Calmly and quietly /
resigned myself to my fate. Not even ray
Of hope entered my mind.
Il had just finished what / supposed was
my last prayer to the great jehovah, In
whose presence / soon expected to be, and
asked Of Him special blessing on my wife
and children, when, to my great surprise, as
II it were from out Of the great deep, saw q
red light some distance from and coming
toward me. As it drew quite near l raised
myself up in the water and cried out
hail was answered, and the ship
put about. / heard the watch on deck call
Ing up the watch below. had now been In
the water fully an hour and a half. The pu-
pills Of my eyes had become so much dilated
that everything was greatly magnifed. The
seemed as II they would never get the small
boat into the water. was nearly exhausted
and could not have lasted many minutes
more. As 1 saw the boat coming / really
supposed IL q ship, IL looked so large. The
next moment it shot up to ime and found
myself seized by. strong and willing arms
and pulled into the boat. My rescuer proved
to be noble Danish sailor. the master of q
little coasting schooner. Every attention
was shown me. Ny rags were exchanged
for the captains best. could retain neither
food nor spirits for some time on account Of
having swallowed so much sea water. M,
benefactOr could not speak English nor
Danish and 1t was hard to make him under
stand how l came to be in the middle Of tn,
English Channel swimming for my life.
was in sad plight. My clothes were in tat
tiers, the knees Of my pantaloons were spill
open, and my engine-ro0m suit not very gen
teel at the very best. found the schooner
bound for Little Hampton, England, only 9
was was delighted iii at this, knowing / Could
reach home by rail before the ship Kingdom
reached Liverpool, and thus save my wife
the terrible shock Of hearing me reported
lost
would cause me to appear as an improve
ment on any tramp you ever saw. | thought
once ON England's shore / would NEE
friends. l could not blame any one from
turning deaf ear to my story. My escape
ance so much on the order Of a vagrant, thai
l was voted liar by all. 1t was O'Clock
Sunday afternoon when stepped on shor,
and bid my rescuer adleu. | was nearly 3Ot
miles from Liverpool called on the rail
way station master and begged him TO senC
| me to Liverpool. My story was taken for
| lie, and was threatened with arrest as al
| imposter. / be-thought that the agent il
| charge Of the fund for the benefit al ship
| wrecked seamen would loan me none,
| enough to get ON with. He, like all others
| viewed me with suspicious eye and refused
| to loan me tenpence to pay telegram to m,
| employers (the owners of the ship, askinI
| assistance. Finally he consented to go will
me to the telegraph Office and pay for the
| message.
AS wrote the message my eyes fell on
small diamond ring on my little finger. !
had not thought of this before. had paiC
ten pounds for it only short time previous
| having lbeen trouble to him. My great
| change Of manner surprised the gentleman
/ His curiosity was reused and be wished Il
| know what had come over me. l soon ex
| planned and bid the charitable gentleman II
| charge of the fund for the benefit of ship
/ wrecked sailors adieu. quickly dispose,
/ of my ring for loan of e. agreeing 10 re
| turn "a for the use of it. / was off for hom
| by 6 o'clock. Being short Of cash l took
| second-class cab. Before my departure iron
| the schooner the Captain filed my poke
| with cigars. In the compartment with M
were three gentlemen. | told my adventure
| and was ho0ted. One of my companion
| left us and went into the third class van h
| get clear Of me, as afterwards learned.
| lighted cigar and was rudely disturbed b,
| the train guard, who ordered me into thu
third class van. As | entered the car, whom